<p>this is a question to anyone from india (if you are living in america or india, doesnt matter) who applied to berkeley.</p>
<p>In you Essay, did you talk about your ethnicity? Like if you grew up india, did you talk about that? Or if you grew up in america did you mention India?</p>
<p>Also did you get accepted?</p>
<p>I'm trying to survey whether mentioning your ethnicity and talking about your country is a good idea. I guess this is the only place where the results of such a survey might be slightly valid because everyone here has high stats so the essay can be independently considered.</p>
<p>I'm not indian, but I'd say to just go with what you're passionate about - if your country and your ethnicity are truly significant to you, it'll come across in your essay.. but if you're insincere, they'll be able to tell too. Unless you're a good liar ;)</p>
<p>For my personal statements (topics were: intended major/why, and experience or personal quality thats important to you), I wrote about cracking my head open as a kid and how it lead to my interest in physio, and about playing guitar... it worked out fine. Best of luck</p>
<p>no. its not like we're a minority. talking about your ethnicity would make your essay slighting unless there was some struggle you overcame because of it i.e. living in kashmir where muslims are constantly killing hindus.</p>
<p>I did, but it's because I wrote about my mom and about how our family in India looks down on her because she had an unsuccessful marriage. It was the one about your goals and aspirations... it was relevant to my topic.</p>
<p>PS- gbngosn, I cracked my head open as a kid too! but I hate science :P</p>
<p>I wrote a paragraph about (this might sound a little cheesy) a pencil. lol
I've been using that same pencil for 5 years now, since 7th grade. I wrote that it indicates my intense responsibility about even little things such as pencils.</p>
<p>Do they like seeing stuff like this? Take little things (like a pencil) and turn it into something profound? Or might they just think I'm making it up?</p>
<p>My main essay, the longer one, I wrote about bodybuilding and how it has helped me become a better person. My second essay I summed myself up in 3 words with an explanation of each words, which also included my past present and future in the explanations.
Why Im I telling you this? Because I want you to see that you can attack the college essay from so many different angles. There is no best way to do it, you just need to let your personality shine through the essay. I love that pencil angle, watch next year they're gonna get a bunch of spin-offs like the 8yrs old eraser from ppl reading this site lol.
Oh i got in btw, all of the colleges I apply to. No ivys or private though, couldnt force myself to write those essays.</p>
<p>I'm half Indian. I wrote about my experience growing up in a trilingual household and how my parents who are ethnically and religiously different shaped my world view. Then I went on about why I want to pursue my major of choice.
If your ethnicity shines something significant, work with it.
But like someone said, it's not like we're a minority.</p>